Never Give Up

...A shiny, black Ford truck came to a screeching halt out in front of the Crystal View Riding Stable. The door flew open as Amy Neal jumped out of the drivers seat. Her red western riding boots hit the dry summer earth creating a cloud of dust. She stormed into the barn and plopped herself down on a bale of hay, crossing her arms across her chest. They had done it again. This was the fourth year in a row she had tried to receive her jockey license. But no, each year they kept insisting that being a jockey is not a woman's job. She didn't know for the life of her why. She had all the experience, her training record was exceptional, the board of jockeys had said so, but they had still denied her. She even had the perfect racehorse, her black Thoroughbred stallion. Black Jack was a tall 17 hands and he ran like shear lightning. Amy had no doubt he could win any race she entered him in. She stood, taking off her cowboy hat, and wiped her sweaty forehead. She walked to her stallions stall, and he nickered and pranced to the door when he saw her. Amy traced the star in the middle of his broad forehead. His big brown eyes seemed to read her thoughts. He pressed his nose against her chin, “All right all right!” She exclaimed, with a little smile. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a long, skinny carrot which was immediately chomped up by the stallion. She had been ready to give up until she had looked into her stallions eyes. The fire in his eyes seemed to encourage her in anything she did. She would try again, tomorrow. And this time she wasn't giving up as easily. She was going to make those board members see her stallion run. Then they could decide.

The next morning Amy flew out of bed and slipped into her best riding jeans and denim jacket. Grabbing a piece of toast as she ran to the car, she was still jumping into her boots as she climbed in. When she arrived at the stables she hitched up the horse trailer and skipped up to Black Jack’s stall. Today was the day her life would change forever, she was sure of it. Haltering him, she led the horse out into the crisp morning sunshine and loaded him into the trailer. She threw Jack’s racing saddle and bridle in the back of the truck, and took off for the jockey headquarters. She had called the night before telling the board members what she was planning to do. And to say the least, they were not happy. But, she was persistent, and had managed to arrange one last meeting with them at the racetrack that morning.

Driving up to the track she noticed that the board of jockeys had already gathered at the track railing. She stopped the truck and walked to the back of the trailer to saddle up her stallion. She had nothing to say to those men, all she wanted was to make them watch her boy fly. Black Jack could already tell he was going to run. He pranced about her feet as she tightened the cinch and slid the bit between his teeth. Finally, she was ready, she jumped onto his slender back and gathered the reins as he tried to rear. She kicked him into a trot as they passed the track gate and neared the starting line. Her heart seemed to be full of a thousand butterflies, and she could feel that Jack knew how nervous she was. He pulled on the bit as she stopped at the line, tossing his massive head back and forth. Jack seemed to act as if his hooves were on hot coals as he pranced around under her.

She closed her eyes and listened to the silence of the still morning air. A robin sang in the distance as if totally oblivious to the fear and excitement she was feeling. Opening her eyes she took a deep breath and took one more glance at the disapproving spectators. Focusing her gaze at the track between the stallions ears she merely touched his sides as he lurched into a gallop. They were off. The stallion's head and neck stretched out into a straight line as she crouched low on his back. The howling wind blew her light brown hair and intertwined it with the ebony mane of Jack. Guiding him on the edge of the inner rail, she knew he was running as fast as he knew how.

They were halfway around the track now. Jack wasn’t even winded, and Amy pushed him faster as they rounded the last curve. She felt his body grow closer to the ground as he dug his hooves into the soft turf. She closed her eyes once again and pushed her face into the wind. For a moment she almost forgot about her dilemma and merely enjoyed the sense of freedom.The finish line was just up ahead and she could tell that the eyes of the board members were all on her. She knew she had ridden well today, and she also knew her stallion had ran faster than ever before. As Jack’s front hoof crossed the finish line, she caught her breath. Now she had to face their decision.

She slowed Jack to a canter as she moved over to where the men were talking. Halting him at the rail she looked down on them. Somehow, being able to look down at them  gave her a small amount of ease. When they noticed she was there the President turned to face her.

“Well Miss Neal, I have to say that is quite the stallion you’ve got there...and you rode very well.” He said with a sly smile creeping across his face.

“Um, thank you sir, I’m glad you liked it. But please I would like your decision.”

“Yes of course. I’ll get straight to the point....” Now Amy thought she already knew the answer. Her stomach seemed to rise to her throat. They couldn’t do it again, not after today, they just couldn’t.

“We have discussed it and have come to the conclusion that perhaps we were a bit prejudice in our earlier decision.” Amy was speechless. “So...we have decided to give you your license on one condition.”

“One condition....?” She asked, her stomach still wanting to choke her.

“Yes, That you run that stallion of yours in as many races as you can enter. Girl, you have a winner!” He smiled and winked at her.

“Oh! Yes sir! Of course sir! Anything you say sir!” Amy felt like she was floating on the clouds. She had done it! She was going to have her license. She hugged her stallion’s neck with a smile as big as Kentucky lighting up her face.

Leaving the track that day Amy couldn’t stop smiling. She still could not believe what had just happened. And to think that she had almost given up hope frightened her. She had learned a important lesson, never...never give up...